# validate (/docs/cli/validate)

Location: CLI > validate

The `prisma validate` command validates the [Prisma Schema Language](/orm/prisma-schema/overview) of your Prisma schema file.

Usage [#usage]

```bash
prisma validate [options]
```

Options [#options]

| Option         | Description                            |
| -------------- | -------------------------------------- |
| `-h`, `--help` | Display help message                   |
| `--config`     | Custom path to your Prisma config file |
| `--schema`     | Custom path to your Prisma schema      |

Examples [#examples]

Validate the default schema [#validate-the-default-schema]

  

#### npm

```bash
npx prisma validate
```

#### pnpm

```bash
pnpm dlx prisma validate
```

#### yarn

```bash
yarn dlx prisma validate
```

#### bun

```bash
bunx --bun prisma validate
```

Output on success:

```text
Environment variables loaded from .env
Prisma schema loaded from prisma/schema.prisma
The schema at /absolute/path/prisma/schema.prisma is valid
```

Validate a specific schema [#validate-a-specific-schema]

  

#### npm

```bash
npx prisma validate --schema=./alternative/schema.prisma
```

#### pnpm

```bash
pnpm dlx prisma validate --schema=./alternative/schema.prisma
```

#### yarn

```bash
yarn dlx prisma validate --schema=./alternative/schema.prisma
```

#### bun

```bash
bunx --bun prisma validate --schema=./alternative/schema.prisma
```

Validate with a config file [#validate-with-a-config-file]

  

#### npm

```bash
npx prisma validate --config=./prisma.config.ts
```

#### pnpm

```bash
pnpm dlx prisma validate --config=./prisma.config.ts
```

#### yarn

```bash
yarn dlx prisma validate --config=./prisma.config.ts
```

#### bun

```bash
bunx --bun prisma validate --config=./prisma.config.ts
```

Error output [#error-output]

If the schema has validation errors:

```text
Environment variables loaded from .env
Prisma schema loaded from prisma/schema.prisma
Error: Schema validation error - Error (query-engine-node-api library)
Error code: P1012
error: The preview feature "unknownFeatureFlag" is not known. Expected one of: [...]
  schema.prisma:3
   |
 2 |     provider        = "prisma-client"
 3 |     previewFeatures = ["unknownFeatureFlag"]
   |

Validation Error Count: 1
```

## Related pages

- [`db`](https://www.prisma.io/docs/cli/db): Manage your database schema and lifecycle during development
- [`debug`](https://www.prisma.io/docs/cli/debug): Display Prisma debug information including schema paths, engine binaries, environment variables, and cache directories for troubleshooting
- [`dev`](https://www.prisma.io/docs/cli/dev): Start a local Prisma Postgres server for development
- [`format`](https://www.prisma.io/docs/cli/format): Format and validate your Prisma schema file with consistent structure
- [`generate`](https://www.prisma.io/docs/cli/generate): Generate artifacts like Prisma Client based on your Prisma schema